Gentoo Linux/ARM HandbookDaniel RobbinsSven VermeulenChris HouserJerry AlexandratosSeemant KulleenTavis OrmandyAron GriffisJason HuebelGuy MartinPieter Van den AbeeleJoe KallarJohn P. DavisPierre-Henri JondotEric StockbridgeRajiv ManglaniJungmin SeoStoyan ZhekovJared HudsonColin MoreyJorge PauloCarl AndersonJon PortnoyZack GilburdJack MorganBenny ChuangErwinJoshua KinardTobias ScherbaumGrant GoodyearGerald J. Normandin Jr.Donnie BerkholzKen NowackLars Weiler
This is the Gentoo Handbook, an effort to centralise Gentoo/Linux
information.
3.0October 21, 2004Installing Gentoo
In this part you learn how to install Gentoo on your system.
About the Gentoo Linux Installation
Users not familiar with Gentoo do not always know that choice is what
Gentoo is all about.
Choosing the Right Installation Medium
You can install Gentoo in many ways. In this chapter we explain how to install
Gentoo using the ARM Netboot images.
Configuring your Network
If you want to install Gentoo using the Internet, you need to setup
networking.
Preparing the Disks
To be able to install Gentoo, you must create the necessary partitions.
This chapter describes how to partition a disk for future usage.
Installing the Gentoo Installation Files
Gentoo installs work through so-called stage-files. In this chapter we
describe how you extract a stage-file and configure Portage.
Installing the Gentoo Base System
Independent of what stage you chose, the eventual result is that you
have a Gentoo base system at your disposal. This chapter describes how
to progress to that stadium.
Configuring the Kernel
The Linux kernel is the core of every distribution. This chapter
explains how to configure your kernel.
Configuring your System
You need to edit some important configuration files. In this chapter
you receive an overview of these files and an explanation on how to
proceed.
Installing Necessary System Tools
As mentioned before, Gentoo is about choices. In this chapter we help you
choose and install some important tools.
Configuring the Bootloader
Several bootloaders exist for the ARM architecture. Each one of them has its
own way of configuration. We step you through the process of configuring a
bootloader to your needs.
Finalizing your Gentoo Installation
You're almost done. We'll just create one (or more) users for your
system and (optionally) install prebuilt packages.
Where to go from here?
Now you have your Gentoo system, but what's next?
Working with Gentoo
Learn how to work with Gentoo: installing software, altering variables, changing
portage behaviour etc.
A Portage Introduction
This chapter explains the "simple" steps a user definitely needs to know to
maintain the software on his system.
USE flags
USE-flags are a very important aspect of Gentoo. In this chapter, you learn to
work with USE-flags and understand how USE-flags interact with your system.
Portage Features
Discover the features Portage has, such as support for distributed compiling,
ccache and more.
Initscripts
Gentoo uses a special initscript format which, amongst other features, allows
dependency-driven decisions and virtual initscripts. This chapter explains all
these aspects and explains how to deal with these scripts.
Environment Variables
With Gentoo you can easily manage the environment variables for your system.
This chapter explains how you do that, and also describes frequently used
variables.
Working with Portage
"Working with Portage" provides an in-depth coverage of Portage, Gentoo's
Software Management Tool.
Files and Directories
Once you want to know Portage in-depth you need to know where it stores it's
files and data.
Configuring through Variables
Portage is completely configurable through various variables you can set in the
configuration file or as environment variable.
Mixing Software Branches
Gentoo provides software separated in several branches, depending on stability
and architectural support. "Mixing Software Branches" inform you how these
branches can be configured and how you can override this separation
individually.
Additional Portage Tools
Portage comes with a few extra tools that might make your Gentoo experience even
better. Read on to discover how to use dispatch-conf and other tools.
Diverting from the Official Tree
"Diverting from the Official Tree" gives you some tips and tricks on how to use
your own Portage tree, how to synchronise only the categories you want, inject
packages and more.
The Ebuild Application
In "The Ebuild Application" you are informed about the steps Portage takes while
installing software and how you can do this yourself using the ebuild
application.